John Calvin Commentary Acts 1:13

"And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [the son] of James." — Acts 1:13 (ASV)

Where they abode Some translate it, where they did abide; as though they used to dwell there. But I am of the opinion that they then first of all used that hired room to dwell together in, until the Holy Spirit had come upon them.

Too, too ridiculous are the Papists, who try to prove Peter's supremacy by this, because he is listed first among all the apostles. Although we grant that he was the chief of the apostles, yet it does not follow from this that he was the chief ruler of all the world.

But if he is, therefore, the chief of all the apostles because his name is first in the list of the apostles’ names, I will in turn conclude that the mother of Christ was inferior to all the rest of the women, because she is listed last here; which they will by no means admit, as indeed it would be something too absurd.

Therefore, unless they want their Papacy to be laughed at by all people, as it has been until now, they must stop adorning it with such foolish trifles. But what is their intent? Indeed, they try to prove from the Scriptures that there was a secondary head of the Church, inferior to Christ; whereas there is no syllable in Scripture that agrees with this foolish invention of theirs.

It is no wonder, therefore, if they snatch certain passages here and there, which, even if no one strikes them from their hands, they will drop of their own accord.

But omitting them, let us consider what Luke’s purpose is in this passage. Because the disciples had fallen away and shamefully fled from their Master Christ, each one wherever fear drove him (Matthew 26:56), they deserved, like deserters or runaways, to be deprived of honor. Therefore, so that we may know that by the Lord's appointment they were gathered together again and restored to their former standing, Luke lists all their names.